Portland City Council candidate Mary Nolan goes door to door seeking votes. Here, Nolan talks with Barbara Adams about issues important to her. Nolan and her opponent, Commissioner Amanda Fritz, are two of the hardest working candidates in Oregon this fall. Doug Beghtel/The Oregonian

You don't need to be rich or good-looking to be a successful political candidate in Oregon. You don't need to have all the answers to PERS reform, Libya or any of the other terrifying topics that pop up during campaigns.

But you do need to know that a campaign is, in essence, just a long job interview with the public. Candidates who respect this reality are less likely to make amateur mistakes or wilt under stress -- and they're more likely to win.

So here are some tips for those of you who have caught the political bug and are contemplating a run for the school board, city council or Legislature. These tips are based on watching Oregon candidates thrive (or flail) for reasons that have less to do with their smarts and potential than their basic due diligence. Here goes:

Unless you are Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, or a seventh-grader running for student council, going too casual is ill-advised. Even in Oregon, where a fancy suit raises suspicions about your otherness, you can't make a strong case for yourself when you're dressed for raking leaves.

Do leave your vanity at home.

Many Oregon candidates talked during their interviews this fall about reforming PERS, the state pension system for public employees. To the best of my knowledge, only one candidate described the impact of his proposed reforms in these terms: "Twenty years from now, people will bless my name."

Try saying that out loud. Imagine saying it during a job interview. Sounds kind of silly, yes? Candidates, please: If you think you have the makings of a political deity, keep this idea to yourself. Stronger candidates tend to praise others' work and emphasize group efforts. Weaker ones who have little faith in other people -- and little faith in the government to improve -- tend to describe their role in Lonely Savior terms.

Don't wake up one morning and decide to run for Congress if you lack a civic track record.

The whole "Outsider Lights a Fire, Wins Big" thing is certainly possible, especially in movies. And it's obvious why someone with grand ideas might want to run immediately for Congress or governor, rather than paddling around on the Troutdale City Council.

But it's good to warm up before swinging for the fences, and it's always better to get involved in community affairs before running for office -- even for a small local office. That way, regular people can vouch for your character if they've seen you in action at a school group or business association.

Also, you'll develop some resilience and perspective. You can't just abruptly file for office and dazzle people into obeisance with your seven-point plan. You need to interact with the world before you can effectively make the case to change it.

Do educate yourself.

Weaker candidates memorize sound bites. They know enough about Oregon to pass a multiple-choice test (What is Measure 5? How big is the state budget?), but they aren't prepared to discuss long-term challenges, evaluate policy options or analyze the political stakes. These candidates tend to repeat themselves, hitting the notes without the music.

Stronger candidates take time to educate themselves -- not necessarily on everything, but on the issues most relevant to their office and constituents. They're comfortable enough to stop feeling like game-show contestants hitting a buzzer to win the prize. They're also confident enough to acknowledge what they don't know.

Don't show disrespect for voters.

Some candidates can barely mask their irritation at the whole rigmarole of (sigh) asking voters who (grimace) hardly know anything for (eye-roll) votes. The election season is sooo long and it's sooo time-consuming to raise money, and most voters are absolutely clueless, blah blah blah. Such sentiments are a red flag: The candidates with the lowest opinion of voters invariably become elected officials with the least respect for citizens.

So don't fake enthusiasm, but do try to muster it however you can.

There are other tips, of course. Don't hide your personality behind a campaign platform, because the public is desperate for authenticity. Don't accidentally launch into a tirade about your ex. Don't act snobbily toward your opponent, even if he's a twerp, because audiences will sympathize with the twerp if you do.

And please, do consider running.

Every election season, I get a tiny glimpse of what Oregon candidates face as they troop from debate to forum to fundraiser. They're expected to be fresh and fluent at power breakfasts and evening forums. They answer inane and off-topic questions all day. They live in fear of the gaffe. This is not a job for the faint of heart -- and every year, I'm amazed by candidates' collective stamina, experience and grace.

But too many good people in Oregon don't run. Too many potentially great candidates wouldn't dream of running, held back by the notion that you need to be a wealthy, airbrushed superhero to survive the campaign trail.

Not true. Not in Oregon. You mostly just need to follow the rules for landing a job (or, heck, surviving high school): Do your best. Be yourself. Develop thick skin. Join groups where you can make friends and connections. And always, always be nice to the secretary.